GS Paper - 3

Small Finance Banks (SFBs)

31-10-2025

Source: BS

Why in News?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has returned Jana Small Finance Bank’s (SFB) application for transition into a universal bank, citing non-fulfilment of eligibility criteria outlined under its 2024 guidelines for SFBs.

What is a Small Finance Bank?

• About: SFBs are private institutions created to enhance financial inclusion in India. They offer basic banking facilities, including deposits and credit, to unserved and underserved groups like small farmers, micro industries, and informal sector enterprises.
• Origin: Announced in Union Budget 2014–15 to boost financial inclusion, the idea stems from the 2009 Raghuram Rajan Committee’s A Hundred Small Steps report.
• Eligibility Criteria: Resident individuals/professionals with 10 years of experience in banking and finance.
  • NBFCs, Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs), and Local Area Banks (LABs) owned and controlled by residents can convert into SFBs.
  • Only resident-controlled entities can promote SFBs.
• Capital Requirements: For Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks transiting into SFBs, initial requirement of net worth shall be ₹100 crore, which will have to be increased to ₹200 crore.
  • Minimum paid-up voting equity capital / net worth requirement shall be ₹200 crore.
  • Promoter’s initial contribution: 40%, to be reduced to 26% within 12 years.
  • Foreign investment permitted as in other private sector banks.
• Regulatory and Prudential Norms: SFBs are full-fledged banks, unlike Payments Banks, and follow RBI’s prudential norms such as CRR and SLR maintenance.
  • Regulated under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and supervised by the RBI.
• Operational Mandates: Must allocate 75% of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) to Priority Sector Lending (PSL).
  • At least 50% of loans should be of value up to Rs 25 lakh.
  • No geographical restrictions, but 25% of branches must be in unbanked rural centres.
  • Preference to banks setting up in under-banked states/districts.
• Permissible Activities: It can distribute mutual fund units, insurance, and pension products with RBI and sectoral regulator approval.
  • May become a Category II Authorised Dealer in foreign exchange.
  • Cannot establish subsidiaries for non-banking financial activities.

NISAR Satellite

31-07-2025

Source: TH 

Why in News?  

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, an Earth observation mission, was launched by ISRO from Sriharikota.

What are the Key Facts About NISAR Satellite? 

• About: NISAR, jointly developed by ISRO and NASA, is the first satellite mission to use dual-frequency radar (L-band and S-band) from a single platform, with advanced microwave imaging capabilities including polarimetric and interferometric data. 
• Technical Features: 
  • Dual-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): 
    • L-band SAR (by NASA): Penetrates forest canopy, ice, and soil, useful for biomass and deformation studies. 
    • S-band SAR (by ISRO): Better for monitoring crops, wetlands, and other surface-level features. 
  • Launch Vehicle: Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II (GSLV Mk II) (specifically the GSLV-F16 variant), India’s largest rocket, is an expendable three-stage launch vehicle. 
    • The NISAR mission marks the first time ISRO is using a GSLV to place a satellite in sun-synchronous polar orbit. 
  • Mission Life: 5 Years. 
  • Phases: The mission includes four phases- launch, deployment, commissioning, and science operations.  
    • The deployment phase extends a 12-meter antenna 9 meters from the satellite, with commissioning in the first 90 days, followed by science operations for the rest of the mission. 
• Mission Objectives and Coverage:  The NISAR mission will provide high-resolution data every 12 days to monitor land changes across Earth.  
  • It will track ground deformation caused by earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic activity. 
  • Measure forest biomass and carbon stock by observing woody vegetation. 
  • It monitors agricultural patterns such as crop extent and growth cycles, and assesses changes in wetlands driven by seasonal and climatic variations.  
  • Study cryosphere dynamics, including glacier and sea ice melt in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. 
• Significance for India: NISAR marks as a key step in Indo-US space ties, the launch reflects India’s rise as a global science partner or ‘Vishwa Bandhu’. 
  • It supports disaster management, agriculture, and climate monitoring. 
  • Furthermore, India has joined the Artemis Accords and collaborated with NASA on human spaceflight, marking a deeper partnership in space exploration. 

What is a Radar Band? 

• About: Electromagnetic radiation with frequencies between about 10 kHz and 100 GHz are referred to as radio frequencies (RF).  
  • The RFs are divided into groups that have similar characteristics, called "bands," such as "S-band," "L-band," etc.  
• Common Radar Bands:  

• Significance:  
  • Lower frequency bands (L, S) can penetrate through rain, clouds, vegetation useful for mapping and Earth observation. 
  • Higher frequency bands (X, Q, V, W) give sharper images and better resolution, but are more affected by weather and atmospheric conditions. 

RBI Gold Reserves Surpass USD 100 Billion

30-10-2025

Source: Mint

Why in News?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has stepped up its gold repatriation efforts, bringing back nearly 64 tonnes of gold from abroad between April and September 2025, raising India’s gold reserves to USD 108 billion.

• Over the past decade, India saw its gold share in foreign exchange reserves almost double from less than 7% to nearly 15%.
• As of September 2025, the RBI held 880.8 tonnes of gold — 575.8 tonnes in India, 290.3 tonnes abroad (Bank of England & Bank for International Settlements), and 14 tonnes as deposits. 

What are the Key Reasons Behind the RBI's Increase in Its Gold Reserves?

• Diversification of Forex Reserves: India’s forex reserves are mainly in US dollars, euros, and other currencies. Increasing gold holdings diversifies risks, protecting reserves from currency volatility.
• Hedge Against Global Uncertainty: During global crises like wars, inflation spikes, or financial instability, gold acts as a safe-haven asset.
  • Rising geopolitical tensions and market uncertainty drive the RBI to boost gold holdings as a safety buffer.
• Strong Returns: Gold prices show long-term appreciation, often outperforming currencies in uncertainty. The RBI’s increased gold holdings ensure asset gains and reserve security.
• De-dollarization Trend: Many central banks like China, Russia, Turkey, and Poland are buying gold to cut US dollar dependence. 
  • The RBI’s gold purchases align with this de-dollarization trend, boosting monetary autonomy.
• Domestic Factors and Management: Part of the RBI’s gold accumulation comes from domestic banks that import gold, adding to reserves without using foreign currency. 
  • This marks a return to prudent reserve management, reflecting lessons from the 1991 crisis and 2008 Global Financial Crisis. 

Why does the RBI Store Part of India's Gold Reserves Abroad?

• Geopolitical Risk Mitigation: RBI diversifies gold storage across London, New York, and Zurich to avoid over-concentration and ensure access during disruptions.
• International Liquidity: Gold in global hubs enables quick conversion to cash and access to international markets when needed.
• Economic Resilience: Overseas gold reserves can be pledged or swapped with global institutions like the IMF or BIS to quickly raise foreign currency and help India meet financial obligations during crises.
• Trusted Custodians: The Bank of England and BIS provide secure, reliable frameworks for gold storage.
• Advanced Security: Vaults in London, Switzerland, and New York feature reinforced structures, biometric access, and 24/7 monitoring for maximum protection.

Conclusion

RBI's accelerated gold repatriation is a strategic move to de-risk India's sovereign assets from geopolitical financial warfare, enhancing economic sovereignty and financial security in a fragmented world.

8th Session of the International Solar Alliance(ISA)

30-10-2025

Source: PIB

Why in News? 

President Droupadi Murmu addressed the 8th Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly in New Delhi, urging the Global South to lead an inclusive solar revolution and reaffirming India’s commitment to a solar-powered world.

What are the Key Highlights of the 8th Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly?

• SUNRISE Network: ISA launched the SUNRISE (Solar Upcycling Network for Recycling, Innovation & Stakeholder Engagement) initiative to promote a circular economy in the solar sector. 
  • It focuses on recycling, innovation, and creating green jobs through sustainable solar waste management.
• One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG): A dedicated OSOWOG programme was introduced to build regional solar interconnections across continents. 
  • The plan identifies key transmission links between Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, with feasibility studies to be conducted in the next 2–3 years.
• SIDS Solar Procurement Platform: Sixteen Small Island Developing States (SIDS) signed an MoU with ISA and the World Bank to collaborate on joint solar procurement, digital integration, and capacity building for stronger energy resilience.
• Global Capability Centre and ISA Academy: ISA announced the Global Capability Centre in India as a “Silicon Valley for Solar,” connecting global centres of excellence. 
  • The ISA Academy, an AI-based e-learning platform, will offer training and resources to strengthen global solar skills and knowledge.

ISA Reports on Global Solar Trends

• The Assembly launched Five ISA Reports: Ease of Doing Solar 2025, Solar PV Skills and Jobs in Africa, Solar Compass, Global Floating Solar Framework, and Global Solar Trends & Outlook 2025, highlighting key global solar trends.
• Ease of Doing Solar 2025: Global energy transition investments in 2024 reached USD 2,083 billion. ISA Member Countries contributed USD 861.2 billion, showing the Global South’s growing leadership.
  • Solar power drew USD 521 billion, making it the leading force in renewable investments.
• Global Solar Trends & Outlook 2025: Confirms that solar is now the dominant force driving clean energy growth worldwide.
• Solar Compass: Integrated PV Applications: Highlights opportunities in Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), as 70% of future buildings in developing countries are yet to be built.
  • ISA aims to lower BIPV costs to rooftop solar levels and promote solar-ready housing policies across the Global South.

What is the International Solar Alliance (ISA)?

• Origin and Membership: The ISA was launched in 2015 by India and France during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris.  It is the first international intergovernmental organisation headquartered in India.
  • It currently has 125 Member and Signatory Countries, working together to expand access to clean, affordable, and reliable solar energy worldwide.
• Core Mission: ISA aims to enhance global energy access and security by promoting solar power as a key driver of the world’s transition to a sustainable energy future.
• Strategic Pillars:
  • Catalytic Finance Hub: It aims to mobilise USD 1 trillion in investments by 2030.
  • Global Capability Centre & Digitisation: Promotes innovation, capacity building, and digital platforms across Member Countries.
  • Regional & Country-Level Engagement: Drives tailored interventions through partnerships and local cooperation.
  • Technology Roadmap & Policy: Supports deployment of emerging solar technologies through practical policies and knowledge resources.
• Significance: ISA seeks to transform lives by bringing clean, reliable, and affordable energy to communities, promoting sustainable growth and improving quality of life globally.

How is India Leading the Solar Energy Transition?

• Record Renewable Energy Achievements: As per IRENA Renewable Energy Statistics 2025, India ranks 4th globally in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity, 4th in Wind Power, and 3rd in Solar Power capacity.
  • Solar capacity has increased more than 39 times, from 2.82 GW in 2014 to 110.9 GW in 2025, including a record 23.83 GW added in 2024–25 alone.
  • India achieved 50% of its installed capacity from non-fossil sources five years ahead of its 2030 target, reflecting strong policy and institutional commitment.
• Manufacturing Boost (2014 to March 2025): Solar PV module capacity surged from 2.3 GW to 88 GW, a 38-fold increase. 
  • Solar PV cell capacity grew from 1.2 GW to 25 GW, a 21-fold increase.
• Flagship Initiatives:
  • National Solar Mission : Part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change, it aims to establish India as a global leader in solar energy.
  • PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: Promotes rooftop solar adoption for households.
  • PM-KUSUM Scheme: Supports farmers in installing solar pumps and grid-connected systems.
  • Solar Parks Scheme: Enables large-scale solar project development across states.
  • Production Linked incentive (PLI) for Solar Manufacturing: Boosts domestic production of high-efficiency solar modules.
  • India’s initiatives like PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana  and PM-KUSUM are now being replicated across Africa and SIDS through ISA partnerships.
• Sustainable and People-Centric Approach: India’s renewable journey balances growth with ecological preservation, focusing on technology sharing and inclusive development. 
  • Progress is measured not just in megawatts, but in lives improved and communities empowered.

What are the Challenges and Opportunities for India’s Solar  Energy Development?

Conclusion

Guided by the founding vision of “One World, One Sun, One Grid,” India reaffirmed its commitment to ISA’s leadership in advancing global solar cooperation, sustainable innovation, and inclusive energy access.

PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM)

30-10-2025

Source:PIB

Why in News?

The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission  ) was launched in October 2021 to address the gaps in India’s healthcare system exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and to enhance preparedness for future health crises.

• The mission advances universal health coverage goals and aligns with SDG-3 targets.

What is PM-ABHIM?

• About: The PM-ABHIM is one of the largest nationwide health initiatives, aims to build a resilient, accessible, and self-reliant public health system capable of responding effectively to current and future health emergencies.
• Aim & Implementation:  It aims to bridge the service delivery gaps between urban and rural areas.
  • It operates under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) component, and focuses on strengthening health infrastructure at all levels- from primary and secondary to tertiary - during FY 2021–22 to FY 2025–26. 
• One Health Approach: It emphasises disease surveillance, research, and the adoption of the One Health approach, which recognises the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health.
• Major Components of PM-ABHIM: 
  • Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs): upgrading Sub-Health and Primary Health Centres into rural (R-AAMs) and urban (U-AAMs) units for comprehensive care.
  • Block Public Health Units (BPHUs): strengthen local health administration and services.
  • Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs): district-level labs for advanced diagnostics and disease tracking.
  • Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs): New tertiary-care units in high-population districts.
  • Health Surveillance & IT Systems:  real-time digital network connecting labs nationwide.
  • Health Research & Innovation, support for studies on infectious diseases and One Health initiatives.

• Significance:
  • Comprehensive Healthcare System Strengthening: By upgrading and establishing AAMs, IPHLs, and CCBs, the mission ensures that healthcare services are accessible to all, especially in underserved areas.
  • Expansion of Surveillance Systems: PM-ABHIM strengthens India’s disease surveillance network, providing real-time data integration from block, district, regional, and national levels.
  • Support for Universal Health Coverage (UHC): By building infrastructure and improving service delivery, PM-ABHIM aligns with India’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage and advancing the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG-3), ensuring access to quality healthcare for all citizens.
  • Decentralized Healthcare Delivery: PM-ABHIM emphasizes local healthcare delivery by upgrading Sub-Health Centres and establishing Urban Health and Wellness Centres (U-AAMs) in slum and underserved urban areas, improving access to primary care services.

What are India’s Various Health Care Initiatives?

• National Health Mission:
  • The National Health Mission aimed to create community-owned and decentralised healthcare systems to make services accessible, affordable, and equitable, particularly for vulnerable groups.
• National Health Policy (2017):
  • The National Health Policy (2017) laid the groundwork for transforming India’s healthcare delivery system. 
  • It emphasised the importance of community-based health systems, highlighting the role of trained first responders, local self-government institutions, and community organisations in improving healthcare access and disaster preparedness.
• Ayushman Bharat Scheme (2018):
  • Building on NHM’s success, the Ayushman Bharat Scheme (2018) marked a major leap in India’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). 
  • It integrates preventive, promotive, and curative health interventions through four major pillars:
    
    • Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB–PMJAY)
    • Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs)
    • Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
    • PM–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM–ABHIM)

Conclusion

Four years after its launch, the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission has transformed India’s health landscape by investing in pandemic preparedness, infrastructure modernisation, and disease surveillance. PM-ABHIM serves as a cornerstone of the country’s efforts to build a safer, healthier, and more equitable future for all citizens.

Indi and Puliyankudi Limes

30-10-2025

Source: PIB

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the first-ever air shipment of GI-tagged Indi Lime (Karnataka) and Puliyankudi Lime (Tamil Nadu) to the United Kingdom.

• This shipment marks a key step in APEDA’s push to boost global recognition of India’s GI-tagged produce, benefiting farmers and strengthening market linkages.

Indi Lime (Vijayapura)

• About: The Indi Lime is the 2nd lime variety after the Assam Lime to receive the prestigious GI recognition. It got the GI tag in 2023.
• Production Hub: Grown mainly in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district, it is prized for its quality, zesty aroma, high juice yield, and culinary and medicinal value, reflecting the region’s agricultural heritage.
  • Vijayapura district contributes nearly 58% of Karnataka’s total lime production. Karnataka itself ranks 4th among Indian states in lime cultivation.          

Puliyankudi Lime

• About: Puliyankudi Lime (from Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu), also called Kadayam variety, features thin peel, strong acidity, and high vitamin C content with about 55% juice yield.
• GI Tag: The Puliyankudi Lime received its GI tag in April 2025, recognizing its distinct nutritional and regional attributes.

World Food India 2025

30-09-2025

Source: PIB

Why in News?

World Food India 2025, India’s flagship food processing event, aims to position India as a ‘Global Food Hub’. The event concluded with the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth over Rs 1 lakh crore, highlighting investments, innovations, and employment generation across multiple states.

What is the Landscape of the Food Processing Sector in India?

• Food Processing: It involves methods to transform raw agricultural, animal, or fish products into edible, commercially valuable finished or semi-finished products, altering their original physical properties.
• Levels of Processing:
  • Primary processing: Basic cleaning, grading, and packaging of agricultural products.
  • Secondary processing: Converting ingredients into edible products (e.g., milling wheat into flour).
  • Tertiary processing: Creating ready-to-eat foods (e.g., baking bread from flour).
• Growth of India’s Food Processing Industry:  India is largest producer of milk, onions and pulses, Second largest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, tea, fruits & vegetables and eggs. 
  • India’s agricultural and processed food exports reached USD 49.4 billion in 2024–25, with processed foods contributing 20.4% (up from 13.7% in 2014–15). The sector employs 2.23 million in registered units and 4.68 million in unregistered ones.
  • Registered food business operators rose from 25 lakh to 64 lakh, supported by 24 mega food parks. 
  • Operation Greens and 225 Research and Development projects added 20 patents and 52 commercialized technologies.
• India’s Initiatives:
  • Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) aims to boost Indian brands internationally.
  • Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Millet-based Products (PLISMBP)  encourages Ready-to-Eat (RTE) and Ready-to-Cook (RTC) millet products, promoting value addition and millet consumption.
  • Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) creates modern infrastructure, efficient supply chains, and reduces post-harvest losses.
  • PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME)  supports micro food processing units with technical, financial, and business assistance.
  • Under the Make in India campaign, the government allows 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)  in food processing.
  • The Mega Food Park Scheme provides integrated infrastructure for food processing, offering up to Rs 50 crore per project.

What are the Opportunities and Challenges in the Food Processing Sector in India?

What Measures can Strengthen India’s Food Processing Sector?

• Cluster Development: Set up integrated food processing zones near farm hubs with shared infrastructure (cold storage, labs, effluent plants), ancillary industries (packaging, logistics), and seamless transport links to cut costs and boost rural–urban balance.
• Tech-Driven Supply Chain: Use blockchain for traceability, IoT for real-time monitoring, AI for demand forecasting, and drones/satellite imaging for crop assessment to cut wastage and improve efficiency.
• Financial Reforms: Create sector-specific credit schemes aligned with crop cycles, a credit guarantee fund for SMEs, and tax incentives to attract private equity and venture capital in food-tech.
• Quality Standards: Harmonize Indian norms with global benchmarks (Codex), introduce tiered certifications with market benefits, deploy mobile testing labs, and link quality-based pricing to National Agriculture Market (eNAM).
• Regulatory Simplification: Establish a single-window clearance and unified digital platform  to cut delays and reduce compliance costs.
• Export Ecosystem: Develop export-specific zones with plug-and-play facilities, country-focused strategies, and a real-time market intelligence system; fully utilize PLISFPI funds to attract global majors.
• R&D Boost: Set up Food Innovation Labs, give weighted tax breaks for R&D, and build a national database of traditional food processing techniques for scaling up.

Crowd Management in India

30-09-2025

Source: IE 

Why in News?

A campaign rally for a Tamil actor-turned-politician in Karur, Tamil Nadu turned tragic, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.

What is a Stampede?

• About: A stampede is a sudden, uncontrolled rush of people or animals, usually triggered by panic, fear, or excitement, occurring in crowded areas and often causing chaos and casualties.
• Stampede Incidence: The NCRB report ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India’ states that from 2000 to 2022, 3,074 lives were lost in stampedes, with nearly 4,000 stampede incidents recorded over the past three decades.
• Cause of Death: A major cause of stampede deaths is the “black hole effect.” In dense crowds, physical forces create unpredictable "force chains" between bodies, so if one person falls, it creates a void, causing others to lose balance and fall. 
  • This domino effect leads to a pile-up, where people suffer compressive asphyxia under the weight of others.
  • During a stampede, crushing pressure on the chest prevents proper lung movement, causing hypoxia (low oxygen) and hypercapnia (high carbon dioxide), both life-threatening.

What are the Key Causes and Impact of Stampedes in India?

What are the Key Recommendations of NDMA for Crowd Management?

• Pre-Event Planning: Crowd estimation and capacity planning, safe site selection and layout design, and clear route planning with unobstructed entry, exit, and movement paths are essential to prevent stampedes.
• Structural Safety: Install barriers and railings in zig-zag queues, provide for virtual queue and approximate waiting time, ensure safe entry and exit points with outward-opening wide exits, and maintain effective communication systems and mobile connectivity to manage crowds.
• On-Ground Management: Implement crowd control and segregation with barricades, manage traffic and parking safely, use real-time crowd monitoring with CCTV and analytics.
• Building Awareness: Promote public awareness of risks and safe behavior, conduct training and drills for all agencies, and provide clear detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for event management stakeholders.
• Emergency Response: Provide on-site medical aid, deploy Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) for emergencies, and establish a clear Incident Command System for swift decision-making.

How can Stampedes be Prevented in India?

• ICT Based Management: Use AI-powered density analytics with CCTV, drone-based aerial surveillance, and mobile network & Wi-Fi heat mapping to monitor crowd size, flow, and bottlenecks in real-time for pre-emptive intervention.
• Managing Human Behavior: Use visual and sound cues to calm crowds, train staff in crowd whispering to reduce tension, and provide safe spaces and pressure-release paths for emergencies.
• Build a Culture of Safety: Launch public safe crowding campaigns with influential figures, enforce mandatory organizer certification on crowd management, and use crowd-sourced monitoring via hashtags or apps to report overcrowding.
• Strengthen Accountability Framework: Enact a Crowd Safety Act defining organizer liability, require independent safety auditors for large events, and implement a national stampede database to learn from past incidents.

Conclusion

Stampedes in India are caused by a mix of triggers, systemic failures, behavioral factors, and poor infrastructure, resulting in high human, social, and economic costs. Effective prevention requires NDMA-compliant planning, crowd management, technology use, public awareness, and accountability frameworks to safeguard lives and ensure safer mass gatherings.

SC Calls for Regulating Social Media

30-08-2025

Source: TH

Why in News?

The Supreme Court (SC), while hearing a case against comedians for derogatory remarks, observed that social media influencers commercialise free speech, cautioning that such content can harm the dignity of vulnerable groups and urging the government to frame effective guidelines to balance free speech with societal sensitivities.

What are the Key Regulations Governing Social Media Usage in India?

Key Legislations:

• Information Technology Act, 2000 is the principal legislation governing electronic communication and social media.
  • Section 79(1) provides “safe harbour” protection to intermediaries (e.g., Facebook, X, Instagram) against liability for third-party content, provided they act as neutral platforms and do not control or modify content.
  • Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000 allows the Government to block online content for protecting sovereignty, security, defense, foreign relations, public order, and preventing incitement to offences.
• Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 mandates social-media platforms to ensure user safety, removal of unlawful content, and awareness on issues such as privacy, copyright, defamation, and national security.
  • The 2023 Amendment to these rules obligated intermediaries to take down false or misleading content related to the Government of India. However, its enforcement has been stayed by the Supreme Court (SC), citing concerns of misuse.

Key Judicial Pronouncements:

• In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015), SC struck down Section 66A  of the IT Act, 2000 for vagueness, reaffirming that criticism, satire, and dissent are protected under Article 19(1)(a), unless falling within reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2).
  • Section 66A criminalized sending offensive, false, or objectionable information via computers or electronic devices, prescribing up to 3 years’ imprisonment.
• In K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), SC recognised privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21. 
  • It shaped later data protection measures, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and influenced regulation of WhatsApp privacy policies and Aadhaar data norms.

Why is there a Need for Regulating Social Media?

• Protection of Vulnerable Groups Unregulated platforms enable derogatory content, cyberbullying, trolling, and exploitation, particularly of women, children, senior citizens, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
• Curbing Misinformation & Hate Speech: The rapid spread of fake news, deepfakes, hate campaigns, and extremist propaganda undermines social harmony, democratic discourse, and national security. 
  • Effective regulation can check disinformation ecosystems and maintain public order.
• Safeguarding Mental Health & Ethical Values: Features like endless scrolling, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), and curated identities drive addiction, anxiety, and depression among youth. 
  • Regulations can promote digital well-being, responsible design, and ethical communication standards.
• Ensuring Accountability of Influencers: With the rise of influencer marketing, users are misled into financial risks by undisclosed paid promotions and illegitimate products (e.g., betting apps). Regulation ensures transparency, disclosure norms, and consumer protection.
• Data Privacy & Security: Social media platforms collect vast user data, often without informed consent, leading to privacy violations, surveillance, and misuse for profit or political influence. Regulation is essential to uphold constitutional rights to privacy under Article 21.
• Balancing Free Speech with Responsibility: While Article 19(1)(a) protects free speech, it is subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) (public order, morality, decency, security of the State). Regulation helps draw the line between legitimate free expression and harmful/derogatory content.

What are the Key Challenges in Regulating Social Media in India?

• Volume & Anonymity: The sheer volume of online content makes continuous monitoring difficult. Added to this, anonymity of users emboldens hate speech, misinformation, and harmful content, straining regulatory capacity.
• Transparency & Accountability Gaps: Social media platforms lack transparency in decision-making and accountability in content moderation policies. The absence of independent oversight raises concerns about opaque practices and arbitrariness.
• Defining Harmful Content: There is subjectivity in defining harmful content, as differing social, political, and cultural views complicate consensus. This ambiguity creates grey zones between legitimate expression and prohibited speech.
• Free Speech vs. Censorship: Any attempt to regulate risks being seen as censorship or a curtailment of free speech, especially when criteria are not clear, objective, and proportionate.
• Cross-Border Jurisdictional Issues: A large share of harmful content originates from outside India’s jurisdiction, making enforcement and regulation difficult under domestic law.
• Political Neutrality Concerns: Content moderation decisions are often accused of political bias, raising questions about platform neutrality and undermining trust in regulatory mechanisms.

What Measures Can be Taken to Improve the Credibility and Utility of Social Media in India?

• Robust Legal-Policy Framework: Update the IT Act, 2000 through the Digital India Act, ensuring platform accountability, data protection, and freedom of expression, backed by judicial oversight to avoid overreach.
• Algorithmic Transparency & Accountability: Mandate algorithm audits, transparency reports, and independent oversight bodies; encourage the use of AI-driven moderation tools to ensure neutrality and quick redressal.
• Technological & Institutional Capacity: Expand cyber forensic labs, enhance agency capacity, and integrate AI-enabled monitoring systems while safeguarding privacy and encryption standards.
• Digital Literacy & Ethical Usage:  Launch nationwide digital literacy campaigns against misinformation, deepfakes, and cyberbullying; promote responsible online behavior and ethical design practices prioritizing user well-being.
• Global & Multi-Stakeholder Cooperation: Strengthen international collaboration on cross-border regulation and involve civil society, academia, and industry to create an inclusive, future-ready digital ecosystem.

Conclusion

Regulating social media is essential to balance freedom of expression with the dignity and rights of vulnerable groups. A combination of robust legal frameworks, technological solutions, digital literacy, and ethical practices can ensure accountability, curb misinformation, and foster a safe, inclusive, and credible online ecosystem.

Civil Society Organizations in India

30-08-2025

Source:TH

Why in News? 

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have once again come into focus for its role in mobilising communities, protecting rights, and filling gaps in governance. Beyond the state and markets, it drives collective action, ensures citizen participation, and strengthens democracy in India.

What is a Civil Society Organization?

• About: CSO society refers to non-state, non-profit entities that unite people voluntarily to work collectively toward shared social, cultural, or ethical goals.

• Evolution of CSOs in India: 
  • Ancient–Medieval Roots: Civil society in India has deep roots in the ideas of dharma (duty), daan (giving), and karma, which encouraged service to others through religious and social movements.
  • Pre-Independence Era: Reformers challenged caste discrimination, untouchability, and other social evils, linking voluntary action to social reform.
    • Brahmo Samaj (1828) (promoted social and religious reform),  Theosophical Society (1879) (spread spiritual and educational reform), and Ramakrishna Mission (1897) (emphasized service to humanity).
    • Efforts were often unorganized and relief-based, but they laid a moral foundation for later mobilization.
    • Gandhi’s philosophy of self-reliance, upliftment of the poor, and constructive work inspired mass participation and voluntary service organizations.
  • Post-Independence: The new Indian state expanded welfare but recognized the supporting role of voluntary organizations.
    • First Five-Year Plan (1951–56) emphasized cooperation between government and NGOs.
    • Decentralization through the three-tier Panchayati Raj system gave space for cooperatives, farmer unions, and local associations to flourish.
    • During the 1965–67 droughts, many international NGOs entered India with foreign aid and later set up permanent offices, reshaping civil society funding.
  • Contemporary Era: Civil society shifted from welfare delivery to a rights- and empowerment-based approach seen in movements like Chipko (1973) and Narmada Bachao (1985). 
    • Civil society broadened its agenda to include rights to food, work (MGNREGA), education (RTE Act), health, and information (RTI Act).
    • CSOs recognized as development partners of the state.NGOs expanded into gender, caste, environment, and marginalized issues, becoming key watchdogs of democracy. 
    • India with around  3.3 million NGOs Today, India has around 1.5 million NGOs involving over 19 million volunteers and staff, though most remain small and volunteer-driven.

What is the Role of Civil Society in a  Democracy?

• Ensuring Accountability: CSOs act as a watchdog, scrutinizing state actions and checking political abuses and corruption.
  • The Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, Rajasthan, was instrumental in the passage of the national Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005.
  • CSOs play a crucial role in monitoring elections, detecting fraud, and affirming legitimacy.
• Empowering Citizens and Promoting Democratic Norms: Educates citizens about laws, rights, and governance, sustaining an informed citizenry.
  • Fosters tolerance, respect for dissent, and compromise, promoting democratic social norms.
  • Provides platforms for marginalized groups (women, poor, persons with disabilities) to participate in governance, as seen in the role of CSOs advocating for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
• Women Empowerment: Organizations like Jagori and Swayam have raised awareness about women’s rights and promoted political participation. 
  • The Institute of Social Sciences' "Women’s Political Empowerment Program" has trained over 15,000 women for leadership roles in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
  • PRIDE India has supported advocacy for women's rights through research and data collection. 
  • SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association) empowers women in the informal sector, helping them gain economic independence and social status.
• Leadership Development and Representation: Facilitates articulation and aggregation of diverse societal interests. 
  • CSOs act as a training ground for future political leaders, breaking traditional party monopolies.
  • CSOs act as a shock-absorbing institution by cross-cutting rigid political polarities. Helps maintain social cohesion in conflict-prone settings.
• Supporting Reforms and Public Service Delivery: Mobilizes public opinion for economic and political reforms.
  • CSOs fill gaps in essential services like healthcare, education, sanitation, and disaster relief (e.g., During the Covid-19 pandemic, Goonj launched the 'Rahat' initiative to support vulnerable communities).
• Global Governance: Civil society not only promotes national democracy but also influences global governance.
  • International norms on human rights, women’s rights, disability rights, and environmental concerns are leveraged to shape domestic policies.
    

What are the Challenges of Civil Society in a Democracy?

• Undermining Democratic Values: Not all CSOs pursue democratic purposes, some promote private interests, racism, nationalism, or fundamentalism, undermining democratic values.
• Funding Constraints CSOs face financial instability due to limited foreign funding (post-FCRA 2020 amendment) and inadequate domestic philanthropy.
  • State funding can corrupt CSOs, diverting focus from democratic objectives to short-term gains.
  • Additionally, many CSOs lack effective monitoring systems, making it difficult to assess their impact and attract funding.
• Inadequate Government Response: Government agencies may be ill-equipped to handle CSO inputs, resulting in friction, ineffective policymaking, and undermined democratic engagement.
• Inadequate Representation: Lack of equal access for marginalized groups in civil society can perpetuate structural inequalities and undermine democratic inclusivity.
• Cultural Insensitivity: Global civil society efforts may overlook local cultural contexts, especially in the Global South, leading to ineffective or irrelevant interventions.
• Internal Undemocracy: Many CSOs lack internal democracy, such as transparency or inclusive decision-making, contradicting the democratic principles they advocate.
• External Manipulation: Civil society organizations may be influenced or used by foreign powers to advance political or economic agendas, distorting their role in promoting democracy.
• Volunteer Retention: High volunteer turnover and inconsistent engagement make it difficult to sustain long-term projects and community relationships.

What Measures can be Adopted to Enhance the Role of CSO?

• Enhance Transparency and Accountability: Develop a national CSO database including financial reports, program outcomes, and impact assessments. Standardized reporting and voluntary third-party audits can build credibility.
• Support Evidence-Based Policymaking: Institutionalize CSO involvement in policy through representation on government committees, consultation forums, and the use of CSO data in decision-making.
• Diversify Funding Sources: Encourage domestic philanthropy, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnerships, and social impact investments to reduce dependency on foreign funds.
• Simplify Regulatory Framework: The government could simplify FCRA and streamline CSO registration and compliance through a single-window digital system,
• Boost Volunteerism: Launch national campaigns to promote volunteering, integrate community service into education, maintain volunteer databases, and use digital platforms to connect volunteers with CSOs.

Conclusion

Civil society remains the heartbeat of participatory democracy, bridging gaps between the state and citizens. Strengthening CSOs is not just about governance, it is about empowering society to shape its own future. A vibrant civil society is the true measure of a resilient democracy.

Samudrayaan Project

30-08-2025

Source: IE

Why in News? 

Two Indian aquanauts dived into the Atlantic Ocean aboard France’s submersible Nautile as part of preparations for the Samudrayaan Project.

What is the Samudrayaan Project?

• About: Samudrayaan is India’s first human deep-sea mission. It is a key component of the Deep Ocean Mission. 
  • The project aims to send three humans in a manned submersible (Matsya-6000) to a depth of 6,000 metres in the ocean by 2027.
  • It will strengthen India’s strategic position by joining the select group of countries (US, Russia, China, Japan, France) with manned deep-sea capability.
• Key Objectives: Develop technologies for deep-sea mining, submersibles, and ocean robotics. 

  • Conduct surveys for mineral deposits, especially polymetallic nodules (containing iron, manganese, cobalt, nickel, rare earths).

• Matsya-6000: It is India's first self-propelled manned submersible. It is made of titanium-alloy in a spherical shape and can carry three aquanauts for 12 hours, with the capability to sustain them for up to 96 hours in emergencies.

  • It is expected to withstand an external pressure up to 600bar under low temperature conditions of -3°C.
  • It is equipped with life-support, acoustic communication, Li-Po batteries, drop-weight escape, and bio-vests for crew health monitoring.

  • The development of MATSYA 6000 is a collaboration between the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) of ISRO.

CDS Released 3 Joint Doctrines for Armed Forces

30-08-2025

Source: HT

Chief of Defence Staff released 3 joint doctrines for armed forces to enhance integration, interoperability, and operational effectiveness across land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains.

• Joint Doctrine for Special Forces Operations: Aims to ensure interoperability of Para Special Forces (Army), Marine Commandos (MARCOS) (Navy), and Garud Commando Force (IAF). 
  • Recommends Joint Service Training Institutes (JsSTIs) as Centres of Excellence.
  • It focuses on advanced joint training for night operations, adverse weather missions, electronic warfare, and precision-guided munition support.
• Joint Doctrine for Airborne and Heliborne Operations: Stresses on integration of advanced technology, joint services training, and tactical synergy.
  • Ensures readiness from peacetime engagements to high-intensity conflicts.
• Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) Doctrine: It covers integration across land, sea, air, space, cyber, and cognitive domains. Aims to empower decision-making and enhance battlefield responsiveness.

Chief of Defence Staff

• The CDS is the highest-ranking military officer in India, serving as the principal principal military advisor to the Defence Minister on all tri-service matters and heading the Department of Military Affairs (DMA). 
  • The position was created to enhance jointness and coordination among the three services – Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• CDS is the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and a member of the Defence Acquisition Council.

USD 125.8 billion by 2032

30-08-2025

Source: PIB

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched Project Aarohan to support the education of children of toll plaza employees.

Project Aarohan

• About: It is a scholarship and mentorship initiative in partnership with Vertis Infrastructure Trust, implemented by SMEC Trust’s Bharat Cares, aimed at children from economically weaker sections.
• Objectives: To eliminate financial barriers, ensure equal access to quality education, and nurture talent, thereby bridging socio-economic disparities.
• Key Features: Supports 500 students from Class 11 to undergraduate level with an annual scholarship of Rs 12,000, and 50 postgraduate students with Rs 50,000 each.
  • It provides mentorship, skill development, and career guidance. 
  • It gives priority to girls, first-generation learners, and students from economically weaker sections (EWS), SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities.
• Significance: 
  • Promotes Educational Equity: Provides financial support and mentorship to children of toll plaza employees from EWS, ensuring access to quality education.
  • Fosters Inclusive Growth: Prioritizes girls, first-generation learners, and students from marginalized communities (SC, ST, OBC, minorities), helping bridge socio-economic disparities.
  • Develops Human Capital: Enhances career opportunities, skill development, talent nurturing, employment & entrepreneurship, contributing to nation-building.

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)

• NHAI was established under the NHAI Act, 1988 to oversee the development, maintenance, and management of national highways.
• National highways span 132,499 km, carrying 40% of India’s road traffic while accounting for only 2% of the road network.

International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem

30-07-2025

Source: TH

Why in News?

The  International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem (26^th July) serves as a crucial reminder that these coastal guardians are vanishing 3-5 times faster than global forests.  

• UNESCO and IUCN data reveals that global mangrove cover has halved since 1985, with 50% of remaining ecosystems now at risk of collapse.  
  • The Tamil Nadu Forest Department held an awareness camp, highlighting mangrove biodiversity and the Fish Bone Channel Technique for ecological restoration. 

What are Mangroves? 

• About: Mangroves are specialized coastal ecosystems consisting of salt-tolerant (halophytic) trees and shrubs that flourish in the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical regions. 
  • They are uniquely adapted to survive in saline, low-oxygen (anaerobic) environments with slow-moving waters and accumulated fine sediments. 
  • Common mangrove species include Red Mangrove, Grey Mangrove, and Rhizophora, which play a crucial role in coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation.
• Mangrove Cover in India: As per Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, India's mangrove cover is about 4,992 sq. km, accounting for 0.15% of the country’s geographical area. 
  • West Bengal has the largest mangrove cover in India, followed by Gujarat in second place. 

What is the Significance of Mangroves? 

• Carbon Sequestration: Mangroves store around 394 tonnes of carbon per hectare, exceeding most terrestrial forests, due to anaerobic and saline soils that slow decomposition.  
  • According to UNESCO, 1 hectare can store up to 3,754 tonnes of carbon, equivalent to removing over 2,650 cars annually.  
    • They uniquely lock carbon in soil for millennia, making them critical for climate change mitigation. 

• Coastal Protection: Mangroves serve as natural buffers against storm surges, tsunamis, and coastal erosion acting as  "bio-shields".  
  • Their dense root systems absorb wave energy and stabilize shorelines, reducing wave energy by 5–35% and flood depths by 15–20%, with reductions exceeding 70% during extreme storms (100-year return period),  playing a crucial role in disaster risk reduction and climate resilience of coastal regions. 
• Biodiversity Hotspots: Mangroves support diverse terrestrial and aquatic species across habitats like mudflats and aerial roots.  
  • India’s mangroves host 5,746 species (84% animals) across 21 phyla, the highest globally, including Bengal tigers, estuarine crocodiles, Indian pythons, and 260+ bird species.  
  • They serve as nurseries for marine life and support one-third of wild fish landings in Southeast Asia. 
• Economic Significance, Food Security & Livelihood Support: Mangroves are vital to coastal economies, supporting fishing, honey collection, boating, and non-timber forest produce.  
  • They nurture nearly 800 billion aquatic species annually, providing nutrient-rich seafood (rich in protein, omega-3s, vitamins D & B12, iron, and zinc) and sustaining livelihoods through the blue economy.  
  • Mangroves also offer eco-tourism potential and play a key role in food security and human wellbeing in coastal regions.
    

What are the Major Threats to Mangroves?  

• Land Conversion for Agriculture: According to the "State of the World's Mangroves 2024" report, extensive conversion of mangrove land for aquaculture (26%), oil palm plantations, and rice cultivation (43%) is a major driver of loss.  
  • Urbanisation, infrastructure projects, and coastal tourism also lead to large-scale deforestation and fragmentation of mangrove ecosystems. 
• Pollution & Industrial Activities: Oil spills, industrial effluents, and plastic waste degrade water quality and hinder mangrove regeneration.  
  • Cases like the Niger Delta highlight how oil contamination leads to long-term ecological damage. Timber extraction and charcoal production also contribute to degradation. 
• Climate Change & Sea-Level Rise: Rising sea levels, increased frequency of cyclones, and coastal erosion due to climate change pose existential threats. As per the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems, climate change threatens 33% of mangrove ecosystems. 
• Invasive Species & Biodiversity Loss: Species like Prosopis juliflora, found in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, disrupt native mangrove habitats by altering soil salinity, reducing freshwater availability, and preventing natural regeneration, thereby threatening local biodiversity. 

Way Forward 

• Strengthen Legal Framework: Enforce stricter laws to prevent deforestation, pollution, and unsustainable coastal development. 
• Community Participation: Involve local communities through sustainable livelihoods and initiatives like “adopt a mangrove” for conservation and restoration. 
• Research & Technology: Promote phytoremediation, medicinal research, and use of drones and AI for real-time monitoring and protection. 
• Bio-Restoration: Rehabilitate degraded areas using bio-restoration and ensure species diversity to build climate resilience. 
• Sustainable Development: Encourage eco-friendly coastal infrastructure, regulate aquaculture, and integrate mangroves into urban planning. 
• International Collaboration: Leverage global platforms like the Ramsar Convention and Blue Carbon Initiative for coordinated conservation efforts. 

CRISPR Technology for Climate-Resilient Crops

30-06-2025

Source: PIB 

Scientists from the Bose Institute, under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a novel CR-9ISPR-dCas9-based molecular tool that enhances plant resistance to heat stress and pathogen attacks. 

CRISPR-dCas9-Based Molecular Tool 

• CRISPR-dCas9:  It is a modified version of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool. In this version, the Cas9 protein is made inactive, meaning it can no longer cut DNA. However, it still uses a guide RNA (gRNA) to find and attach to specific DNA sequences. 
  • While regular CRISPR-Cas9 works by cutting DNA to make changes in the gene, CRISPR-dCas9 does not cut the DNA. Instead, it acts like a gene switch by turning specific genes on or off without changing the DNA itself. 
  • This makes it useful for safely controlling when certain genes, like stress-response genes in plants, are activated, only when needed, saving energy and improving efficiency. 
    • CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a gene-editing technology that uses the Cas9 protein and a guide RNA (gRNA) to act as genetic scissors, enabling precise cutting, removal, addition, or alteration of DNA sequences in living organisms. 
• Working Mechanism: Plants often face stress due to extreme weather or pathogen attacks, which reduces their productivity and growth. 
  • CRISPR-dCas9 helps plants respond only when under stress using a transmembrane (TM) domain from a tomato protein (NACMTF3) to keep a modified protein, dCas9, outside the nucleus under normal conditions. 
  • During stress (like heat or pathogen attack), the TM domain releases dCas9, which then enters the nucleus and activates specific defense genes. 
    • Under pathogen attack (e.g., Pseudomonas syringae), it activates CBP60g and SARD1 immune response genes, boosting immune responses, and under heat stress, it activates NAC2 and HSFA6b, improving water retention, leaf greenness, and thermotolerance. 
• Application: Tested on tomato,  potato, and tobacco, it showed the highest effectiveness in tomato plants. 

Tech-Driven Multilingual Inclusion in India

29-10-2025

Source: PIB

Why in News? 

India is advancing toward digital multilingual inclusion by leveraging advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and machine learning.

• Platforms like Bhashini, BharatGen, and Adi-Vaani are being used to preserve, digitize, and promote the use of 22 Scheduled Languages and hundreds of tribal and regional dialects across India’s vast geography in governance, education, and communication.

How is India Integrating Technology with Language Preservation and Digital Inclusion?

• Bhashini: Implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the National Language Translation Mission (NLTM).
  • It provides real-time Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven translation, speech recognition, and language understanding services.
  • Supports 22 Scheduled Languages and several tribal languages, enabling multilingual access in governance, education, and digital communication.

• Sanchika: Managed by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL).
  • Sanchika serves as a digital archive of dictionaries, primers, storybooks, and audiovisual content in Indian languages.
• BharatGen: It is a multilingual AI model suite for Indian languages developed under MeitY.
  • Creates Text-to-Text (T2T) and Text-to-Speech (TTS) translation systems.
  • It uses datasets from the Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages (SPPEL) and Sanchika Digital Repository.
• Adi-Vaani: Launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA). It is  India’s first AI-driven platform for tribal language translation and preservation.
  • It supports Santali, Bhili, Mundari, Gondi, and other tribal languages through Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Speech Recognition.
• GeMAI (Government e-Marketplace AI Assistant): Developed under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as part of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
  • Provides voice and text-based support in multiple Indian languages.
  • Assists small vendors and local entrepreneurs to navigate and transact in their native languages.
• Anuvadini: Created by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
  • Uses AI-based translation to convert engineering, law, and medical textbooks into Indian languages.
  • It supports the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 vision of learning in the mother tongue.
• e-KUMBH (Knowledge Unleashed in Multiple Bharatiya Languages): An AICTE-hosted digital platform offering free access to technical and higher education books in Indian languages.
• SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds): A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform of the Ministry of Education (MoE).
  • SWAYAM provides multilingual online courses to more than five crore learners across India. It strengthens linguistic inclusivity in digital higher education.

What are the National and Institutional Initiatives Supporting Language Preservation and Digital Inclusion?

• SPPEL (Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages): Launched in 2013 by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and implemented by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru.
  • Documents and digitally archives languages spoken by fewer than 10,000 people.
  • Creates text, audio, and video corpora to support AI and NLP-based research on endangered languages.
• TRI-ECE (Tribal Research, Information, Education, Communication and Events) Scheme: Implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA).
  • Promotes AI-based translation tools for converting English and Hindi text and speech into tribal languages and vice versa.
  • Collaborates with Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) to ensure cultural sensitivity and community participation.
• NTM (National Translation Mission): A flagship program of the Ministry of Education (MoE).
  • NTM aims to translate knowledge and academic texts into Indian languages to democratize education and research.
• NMM (National Mission on Manuscripts): Run by the Ministry of Culture (MoC).
  • NMM works on preservation, digitization, and dissemination of ancient Indian manuscripts in Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, and regional languages.

What is the Broader Impact of Technology-Led Multilingual Platforms?

• Governance and Public Service Delivery: Multilingual AI platforms like Bhashini and GeMAI enable citizens to access government services, information, and digital portals in their own languages.
  • This enhances transparency, participation, and trust in governance, especially for people in rural and non-Hindi-speaking regions.
• Education and Skill Development: Platforms such as e-KUMBH, Anuvadini, and SWAYAM democratize learning by providing textbooks, technical content, and online courses in regional languages.
  • This supports the NEP 2020 vision of learning in the mother tongue, improves comprehension, and helps bridge the digital education divide.
• Cultural and Linguistic Preservation: Initiatives like SPPEL, Sanchika, and Adi-Vaani digitally document endangered and tribal languages, keeping oral traditions, stories, and knowledge systems alive.
  • They ensure that linguistic heritage evolves with technology rather than disappearing in its shadow.
• Economic and Social Inclusion: Language-inclusive digital platforms help local entrepreneurs, farmers, and small businesses interact with government schemes, e-commerce, and financial services more easily.
  • This reduces information barriers and fosters equitable participation in the digital economy.
• Research and Innovation: The large multilingual datasets created through these initiatives strengthen India’s AI research ecosystem and encourage the development of indigenous language technologies.
  

Conclusion

India’s language preservation efforts are driven by cutting-edge technologies to keep its linguistic heritage vibrant and accessible. Platforms like Bhashini, and BharatGen safeguard cultural diversity while driving inclusive digital growth and global leadership in multilingual innovation.

United Nations Convention against Cybercrime

29-10-2025

Source:IE

Why in News? 

The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (UNCC), the world’s first global framework to tackle cybercrime, moved closer to becoming legally binding after 72 of 193 UN member states signed the treaty.

What is the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (UNCC)?

• About: The UNCC officially called the Convention on Cybercrime: Strengthening International Cooperation to Combat Crimes Committed Through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Systems, is the first international criminal justice treaty to have been negotiated in over 20 years.
  • The convention, developed by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), was adopted by consensus under UN General Assembly Resolution 79/243 in December 2024.
• Key Provisions: UNCC provides legal measures to address crimes committed via ICT systems.
  • It facilitates cross-border sharing of electronic evidence in serious crimes crimes such as illegal data interception, hacking, money laundering, and online child sexual abuse material.
  • The convention promotes capacity building and technical assistance for developing nations.
  • UNCC also includes human rights protections while enabling digital law enforcement.
• Implementation Mechanism: UNCC establishes a Conference of the States Parties to monitor and review implementation.
  • UNODC serves as the secretariat for the Convention, providing technical support, training, and assistance for national implementation, along with guidance through its Global Programme on Cybercrime.
  • States that did not sign may later accede by depositing an instrument of accession.
• India and UNCC:  India has not signed the UNCC as of October 2025, despite being an active participant in its drafting.
  • Earlier India also declined to sign the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, consistent with its approach of wanting a greater role in shaping global digital frameworks.

What is Cybercrime and Cybersecurity?

Cybercrime

• About: It refers to criminal activities that use or target digital technologies, networks, or devices.
  • Perpetrators range from individual hackers to organized criminal networks, exploiting the anonymity and reach of the internet.
  • These crimes transcend borders and can affect national security, financial systems, and personal safety.
  • Developing countries are especially vulnerable due to weak cybersecurity infrastructure and low awareness.
  • Emerging technologies like AI, deepfakes, and generative tools have created new risks around misinformation, privacy, and copyright infringement.
• Categories:
  • Cyber-enabled Crimes: Traditional crimes conducted online, such as fraud, trafficking, hate speech, and incitement to violence.
  • Cyber-dependent Crimes: Crimes that can occur only through ICT systems, including phishing, identity theft, malware attacks, and ransomware.
• Cybercrime Threat in India: Cybercrime cases rose by 31.2% in 2023, reaching 86,420 cases, up from 65,893 in 2022 (National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023). Karnataka recorded the highest number of cases.
  • Major cybercrimes include Fraud, Extortion, and Sexual exploitation.
  • India also faces cross-border scams from Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.
  • Between January and May 2025, Indians lost over Rs 4,800 crore to foreign-based cyber frauds.

Cybersecurity

• About: Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft. It acts as a digital fortress, defending individuals and organizations against online attacks.
  • It includes strategies, policies, and technologies aimed at identifying and assessing threats, preventing and detecting cyberattacks, and mitigating harm while ensuring quick recovery from incidents.
  • A strong cybersecurity framework helps maintain privacy, trust, and data integrity in an increasingly interconnected world.

What are the Challenges and Opportunities for India Under the UN Cybercrime Convention?

Challenges

• Privacy Concerns: The Convention’s surveillance provisions may conflict with India’s constitutional right to privacy as highlighted in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, 2017.
• Data Sovereignty Issues: India opposition to  data-sharing without prior written consent from the originating country may clash with the treaty’s cross-border data-sharing clauses.
• Strategic Caution: India’s hesitation to sign the treaty protects autonomy but risks limiting its influence in future digital rule-making.

Opportunities

• Stronger Global Cooperation: Enables India to work more closely with other countries on cybercrime investigations and evidence-sharing.
• Capacity Building Support: Offers access to UN-led training and technical aid to strengthen national cybercrime units.
• Policy Alignment: Could push India to update its National Cybersecurity Strategy and modernize data protection and cyber laws.

Conclusion

The UN Cybercrime Treaty marks a major step in global cybersecurity governance, aiming to ensure no country is left defenceless against cybercrime but it also raises critical questions about privacy, human rights, and digital sovereignty.
For India, the challenge lies in adopting a framework that strengthens cyber resilience without compromising individual freedoms.

Vaquita Porpoise

29-08-2025

Source: DTE

A new report has highlighted that only about 10 vaquita porpoise, the world’s rarest marine mammal, remain in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico. 

• Their numbers have plummeted due to entanglement in illegal gillnets used for catching totoaba (an endangered fish prized for its swim bladder).

Vaquita Porpoise (Phocoena sinus)

• About: The vaquita porpoise (little cow in Spanish), is the world’s most endangered marine mammal discovered in 1958.
  • Porpoises are the smallest members of the cetacean family (whales, dolphins, porpoises) and are distant relatives of dolphins, diverging around 15 million years ago. 
• Habitat: Marine, restricted to the northern Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico, mostly in shallow waters up to 50 m deep.
• Physical Characteristics: Vaquitas have dark rings around the eyes, dark patches on lips stretching to the fins. Newborns are darker with a gray fringe. 
  • Their large dorsal fin helps release body heat in warm waters.
• Behavior: Shy and usually stay near the shore. They avoid boats and are mostly solitary or in very small groups, unlike other cetaceans that travel in large pods.
• Threats: Bycatch in illegal gillnets set for the vulnerable totoaba fish.
• Protection Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.
  • CITES: Appendix I

UN Charts New Path for Global AI Governance

29-08-2025

Source: DTE 

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has launched the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, marking a key step to harness AI benefits while managing its risks.

• Global Dialogue on AI Governance:  It will provide an inclusive platform within the United Nations for states and stakeholders to discuss the critical issues concerning AI facing humanity today.
• Independent International Scientific Panel on AI: It acts as a bridge between AI research and policymaking. Provides rigorous, independent scientific assessments to anticipate challenges and guide global AI regulation.
  • It will present its annual reports at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in 2026 (Geneva) and 2027 (New York).

AI Governance in India

• India currently lacks a dedicated AI law. It is regulated through existing frameworks like the Information Technology Act of 2000 (cybercrimes, intermediary liability), Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (data privacy), and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) laws (AI-generated works). 
• NITI Aayog’s National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence, 2018 guides AI Research and Development in healthcare, agriculture, education, smart cities, and mobility, while its Principles for Responsible AI (2021) address ethical AI deployment.
• India is active in global AI forums. It hosted the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit in 2023, co-chaired the AI Action Summit with France in 2025, and will host the AI Impact Summit in 2026.

2nd International Bharat 6G Symposium

28-10-2025

Source:PIB

Why in News?

At the India Mobile Congress(IMC) 2025, India highlighted its growing leadership in next-generation telecom through the 2nd International Bharat 6G Symposium, marking a key step towards building a self-reliant, innovative, and globally connected 6G ecosystem for Viksit Bharat 2047.

• The IMC is Asia's most prominent technology expos, jointly organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).

What are the Key Outcomes of 2nd International Bharat 6G Symposium at IMC 2025?

• New Delhi Declaration on 6G:  At the Symposium, global research alliances including Bharat 6G, 6G-IA (European organization), ATIS’ Next G Alliance (North American organization), and others issued a Joint Declaration to shape 6G as a global public good.
  • The declaration outlines five core principles for 6G networks that are trusted and secure, resilient and reliable, open and interoperable, inclusive and affordable, and sustainable and globally connected.
  • The declaration also calls for skills development and global collaboration to build a future-ready, inclusive 6G ecosystem aligned with India’s 6G Vision 2030.
• Economic Vision: The symposium highlighted India’s 6G roadmap aiming for USD 1.2 trillion GDP impact by 2035 and 10% of global 6G patents, along with a threefold growth in satellite communications by 2033.
  • The Symposium showcased India’s indigenous 4G stack as a milestone toward technological self-reliance and export readiness.
• Focus on Collaboration and Inclusivity: The symposium urged stronger global collaboration, indigenous R&D, and industry- academia synergy to build an inclusive 6G framework. 
  • It highlighted India’s shift from a technology consumer to a co-creator and global leader, backed by milestones like the rollout of one lakh indigenous 4G towers.

What is Bharat 6G Vision?

• Bharat 6G Vision:  Launched in 2023, Bharat 6G Vision aims to position India as a global leader and co-creator in next-generation wireless communication.  
  • It aligns with the Viksit Bharat 2047 goals, focusing on affordability, sustainability, and universal access by 2030.
• Features of the Vision:
• Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA): An industry-led, government-facilitated body uniting telecom operators, academia, startups, and R&D institutions.
  • It focuses on domains like spectrum, technology, sustainability, applications, and use cases.
  • Bharat 6G Alliance signed a Memorandum of Understanding with global alliances including Next G Alliance (USA), 6G-IA (Europe), 6G Forum (South Korea), 6G Flagship (Finland), 6G Brazil, and others to collaborate on research and global standards.
    • As of July 2025, the alliance comprises over 80 member organizations.
  • It is also working with Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI) and National Association of Software and Services Companies(NASSCOM) to leverage national expertise and ensure resilient, trusted supply chains.
  • Bharat 6G Mission:Aims to make India a global co-creator and leader in 6G technologies by 2030.
    • Focuses on indigenous innovation, capacity building, and skills development.
    • Emphasizes sustainability, security, and inclusivity in telecom development.
    • Seeks to ensure that 6G innovation originates in India and benefits both national and global communities.

• Infrastructure: The government funded two advanced testbeds, the 6G THz Testbed and the Advanced Optical Communication Testbed to promote research and innovation in next-generation telecom technologies. 
  • It also sanctioned 100 5G labs across academic institutions in FY 2023–24 to build a 6G-ready academic and startup ecosystem, and approved 104 research proposals on 6G network systems.

• India’s Initiatives for 6G Ecosystem:
  • Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF): Launched in 2022 to fund R&D in 5G and 6G technologies.
    • TTDF supports domestic companies, startups, and academic institutions developing telecom products for affordable rural connectivity.
    • As of September 2025, 115 projects worth Rs 310.6 crore have been approved, with durations of 1–5 years.
  • Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) at IIIT Bangalor: Set up under National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), to pioneer Advanced Communication Systems for 5G+ and 6G.

What are the Challenges Related to 6G Implementation  in India?

• Infrastructure Readiness: India’s current 5G rollout is still expanding, and the shift to 6G will demand dense fiber networks, advanced semiconductors, and indigenous hardware, areas where domestic capability is still limited.
• Limited R&D Ecosystem: Despite initiatives like the Bharat 6G Mission, India’s research output, patents, and private investment in frontier telecom technologies remain modest compared to global leaders like China and US.
• Spectrum and Standards Gap: The allocation and regulation of terahertz (THz) bands for 6G are still evolving globally, leaving India with uncertainty in planning its 6G roadmap.
• Talent and Skill Shortage: There’s a shortage of trained professionals in AI, photonics, and network engineering needed for indigenous 6G innovation.
• Affordability and Digital Divide: High deployment costs could widen the gap between urban and rural connectivity if not supported by inclusive policies.
• Security and Privacy Risks: With ultra-fast data transfer and massive device connectivity, ensuring cybersecurity and data protection becomes more complex.

What Steps are Needed to Ensure Successful Implementation of India’s 6G Vision?

• Promote Indigenous Manufacturing: Integrate 6G components under Production Linked Initiative (PLI) Schemes for telecom, semiconductors, and electronics to reduce import dependency and enhance domestic production.
• Skill Development and Human Capital: Expand 5G Labs in academic institutions to create a 6G-ready talent pool and promote interdisciplinary courses in AI, IoT, photonics, and network engineering.
• Spectrum Policy and Regulation: Formulate a forward-looking National Spectrum Strategy for THz frequencies and encourage global harmonization through participation in ITU and global standard-setting bodies.
• Inclusive Access and Affordability: Align 6G rollout with Digital India and BharatNet to ensure equitable access in rural and remote regions, avoiding a new digital divide.

Conclusion

India’s 6G journey reflects its shift from a technology adopter to a global innovator. With initiatives like the Bharat 6G Alliance, and strong global partnerships, the country is building a secure, inclusive, and future-ready telecom ecosystem paving the way for a self-reliant and digitally empowered Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Reclassification of CPSEs

28-10-2025

Source: ET

Why in News?

The Government is planning to revise the classification and performance assessment criteria for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) by introducing two new ‘Ratna’ categories in addition to the existing Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna statuses.

• The Department of Public Enterprises under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises grants Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna status to CPSEs based on their financial performance. 

What are the Key Aspects of the CPSEs’ Reclassification?

• New Evaluation Parameters: New evaluation parameters under discussion include corporate governance, succession planning and leadership development, capital expenditure, dividend payout, sustainable business practices, and alignment with Vision 2047.
• Re-evaluation Committee: A 10-member committee led by Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan is conducting the re-evaluation, with its report due before the Union Budget 2026–27.
• Objective of Revision: It aims to modernize the public sector and align it with India’s national economic strategy by developing next-gen CPSEs capable of global competitiveness. 
  • It focuses on accountability, performance-driven governance, efficiency, and strategic resource alignment toward sectors vital for India’s future economic security.
• Current Ratna Categories: India currently has 14 Maharatna, 26 Navratna, and 74 Miniratna firms. The status enables financial and operational independence in capital spending, joint ventures, and investments.

What are CPSEs? 

• About: A Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) is a company, majority-owned and controlled by the Government of India, with at least 51% of its shares held by the Central Government, either directly or indirectly through other CPSEs. 
  • This definition also extends to include the subsidiary companies of such enterprises.
• Formation: It is an entity that was either incorporated under Indian company law (like the Companies Act, 2013) or established by a specific Act of Parliament. 
• Current Classification of CPSEs:

Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025

28-10-2025

Source: PIB

The Government of India has announced the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) 2025, the nation’s highest recognition for outstanding contributions in diverse fields of science, technology, and technology-led innovation.

• Prominent Awardees of 2025: Vigyan Ratna (Posthumous)-Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar – noted astrophysicist.
  • Known for co-developing the Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravity, an alternative to Einstein's general relativity that supports the steady-state model of the universe.

Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar

• About: The award has been instituted by the Ministry of Science and Technology. 
  • It aims to inspire excellence in Indian science and technology, promote innovation, and acknowledge achievements that contribute to national development.
• Disciplinary Coverage: It covers 13 fields such as Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Agriculture, Environment, Atomic Energy, Space, etc.
• Categories of Awards:  The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is conferred under four categories:

  • Vigyan Ratna (VR): Lifetime achievement recognition.

  • Vigyan Shri (VS): Distinguished contributions.

  • Vigyan Yuva–Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY–SSB): For scientists below 45 years.

  • Vigyan Team (VT): For exceptional collaborative work.

Google’s AI C2S-Scale

28-10-2025

Source: IE

Google DeepMind’s AI model Cell2Sentence-Scale 27B (C2S-Scale) produced a new, lab-confirmed hypothesis on cancer cell behavior, marking a breakthrough in AI-driven drug discovery and biological research.

C2S-Scale Model

• About: C2S-Scale is a large language model (LLM) built on Google's Gemma-2 architecture, trained to understand gene expression as a language.
  • With 27 billion parameters, the model can capture subtle relationships among genes, cells, and tissues, reflecting AI “scaling laws”—where larger models gain emergent abilities that smaller models lack.  
• Working: It translates single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data and interprets biological functions as ‘cell sentences’, learning patterns from millions of cells to understand cellular functions. 
• Breakthrough: The AI hypothesized that the drug silmitasertib could act as a conditional amplifier, making cancer cells more visible to the immune system only in the presence of low interferon.
• Significance: C2S-Scale enables in-silico (computer-based) screening at unmatched speed and scale, accelerating scientific discovery.

Google DeepMind

• About: It is an Alphabet-owned AI research lab dedicated to achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and applying it to solve complex challenges in science, healthcare, and climate change. 
• Achievements: Its notable breakthroughs include AlphaFold for protein structure prediction, AlphaGo for strategic reasoning, and the Gemini large language models.

Women-Led Economic Growth for Viksit Bharat 2047

28-08-2025

Source:PIB

Why in News?

India’s growth story is shifting, with women driving economic rise through higher workforce participation, entrepreneurship, and access to finance. Empowering them is now central to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

How Women are Powering India’s Economic Transformation?

• Workforce Participation:  India’s female workforce participation rose from 22% in 2017-18 to 40.3% in 2023-24, while unemployment fell from 5.6% to 3.2%. 
  • Rural female employment grew by 96%, and urban by 43%, showing strong gains in opportunities for women.
  • Female graduate employability rose from 42% in 2013 to 47.53% in 2024, while women with postgraduate and above saw Worker Population Ratio (WPR) increase from 34.5% in 2017-18 to 40% in 2023-24.
  • In the past seven years, 1.56 crore women joined the formal workforce, while 16.69 crore women unorganized workers registered on e-Shram, gaining access to government welfare schemes.
• Women Development to Women – Led Development: Gender budgets rose 429% over a decade, from Rs 0.85 lakh crore (2013-14) to Rs 4.49 lakh crore (2025-26), signaling a shift to women-led development.
  • Programs like Startup India have boosted women’s entrepreneurship, with 50% of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) startups having at least one woman director. Around two crore women are now Lakhpati Didis, supported by initiatives like Namo Drone Didi.
  • Women-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) nearly doubled from 1 crore (2010-11) to 1.92 crore (2023-24) and generating 89 lakh additional jobs for women (FY21–FY23).  
    • This marks a decisive move from development for women to development by women.
  • Financial inclusion schemes are pivotal, with women receiving 68% of MUDRA loans ( worth Rs 14.72 lakh crore) and accounting for 44% of PM SVANidhi beneficiaries among street vendors.

Why is Women-Led Development Significant?

• Women as Leaders: Shifts women from welfare recipients to agents of change.
• Gender Equality: Reduces stereotypes and generational inequality, which is crucial as India ranked 131st out of 148 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025.
• Economic Growth: Bridging the gender gap in employment could potentially lead to a 30% increase in India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• Inclusive Development: Inclusion of women boosts productivity, innovation, and decision-making. 
  • Empowering women gives them autonomy, access to opportunities, and influence over personal, professional, and societal decisions, driving meaningful economic and social change.

What are the Challenges to Women-Led Development in India?

• Social and Safety Constraints: Deep-rooted patriarchy limits decision-making and increases unpaid domestic work. 
  • Early marriage, domestic responsibilities, and threats to personal security (as India records 51 cases of crime against women every hour). curtail mobility, career progression, and active participation in society.
• Education and Skill Gaps: Female literacy is 65.4% (2011 census), below the global average, restricting opportunities.
• Underrepresentation in Governance & Leadership: Women remain underrepresented in political, corporate, and institutional decision-making, reducing their influence on policies affecting them.
  • India's women's representation in the Parliament remains well below the global average of 25%.
• Digital and Technological Exclusion: Limited access to technology, internet, and digital literacy prevents women from participating fully in the modern economy.
• Workforce Participation Barriers: Women face unequal pay, glass ceiling effects, occupational segregation, safety at workplace and limited representation in formal and high-skilled sectors.

What Measures can India Adopt to Further Mainstream Women in Economic Growth?

• Childcare & Care Economy: Establish a National Crèche Grid, workplace crèches, professionalise care workers, and extend paid maternity leave to informal sectors to enable workforce retention.
• Infrastructure & Digital Inclusion: Mandate gender-responsive budgeting in sanitation, transport, water, housing. Embed Digital Saksharta and PMGDISHA into national infrastructure and rural internet projects to boost women’s digital empowerment.
• Representation & Governance: Enforce gender quotas in boards, panchayats, MSME councils; build capacity in gender budgeting; link incentives to women’s inclusion.
• Decentralised Gender Planning: Institutionalize Gender Action Plans at the Gram Panchayat, block, and district levels, incorporating input from Mahila Sabhas and SHG networks. Ensure these plans are co-created with women and integrated into annual development planning and financing.
• Workplace Safety and Empowering Women's Mobility: Create women-friendly infrastructure with accessible spaces and establish Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs) under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 to address harassment.
  • Foster a zero-tolerance culture and address cultural and structural violence through education, empowerment, and policy reforms for an equitable and safe environment.

Conclusion

Women are becoming the backbone of India’s economy, driving change from rural enterprises to corporate leadership, as Jawaharlal Nehru once said, “The status of a nation can be judged by the condition of its women,” India is progressing toward Viksit Bharat 2047, embodying Nari Shakti.

Project 17A: INS Himgiri & INS Udaygiri

28-08-2025

Source: IE

Two advanced Project 17A multi-mission stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri have been commissioned, marking a significant step in India's naval modernization 

• Project 17A: P17A ships feature enhanced stealth capabilities compared to their predecessors P17 (Shivalik) class, with improvements in hull design and weapon systems.
  • The design incorporates ‘State of the Art’ weapons and sensors that include supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, and rapid-fire Close-in Weapon Systems.
  • These multi-mission frigates are designed to operate in a ‘Blue Water’ environment, meaning they can handle both conventional and non-conventional threats within India's maritime interests.
  • An Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) is also installed to optimize the ship’s functionality and crew coordination.
• INS Himgiri: First P-17A stealth frigate built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
• INS Udaygiri: Second P-17A stealth frigate built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), also the 100th ship designed by Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
• Capabilities: Equipped with BrahMos missiles, Barak-8 missiles, LRSAM, torpedoes, rocket launchers, advanced radars, and Shakti Electronic Warfare Suite.
• Legacy names: Both ships revive historic names of earlier INS Udaygiri (1976) and INS Himgiri (1974), which played key roles in Operation Pawan, Operation Cactus, Operation Sahayata and others.

Integrated Air Drop Test for Gaganyaan Mission

28-08-2025

Source: TH

Why in News? 

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted its first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-1) for the Gaganyaan mission.  

• IADT-1 aimed to validate the performance of the parachute-based deceleration system for the Crew Module (CM) of the Gaganyaan mission in a real-world scenario. 
• The test involved collaborations between ISRO, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, and Indian Coast Guard.

What is Gaganyaan Mission?

• Overview: India’s first human spaceflight program, aiming to send a crew of 3 astronauts to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at 400 km for 3 days and return them safely to Earth.
• Mission Phases: Includes two unmanned test missions followed by the first manned mission expected to happen in early 2027.
• Significance: Gaganyaan success will place India among the elite group of nations (US, Russia, China) with human spaceflight capability.
• Crew training for Gaganyaan: Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla are India’s astronauts-designated for Gaganyaan.
• Key Technologies for Crew Safety:
  • Human-Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3): It is a modified version of ISRO's LVM3 rocket. It includes solid, liquid, and cryogenic stages, re-configured to meet human rating requirements. 
    • The rocket is capable of launching the Orbital Module to a Low Earth Orbit (400 km) and features a Crew Escape System (CES) with high burn rate solid motors to ensure crew safety during emergencies at launch or ascent.
    • CES ensures safe abort in case of emergencies during launch or ascent.
  • Orbital Module (OM): Houses the Crew Module (CM) and Service Module (SM) with life support, avionics, and propulsion systems.
    • The CM is a habitable space with an Earth-like environment, with a pressurized inner structure and unpressurized external structure. It houses crew interfaces, life support systems, and avionics, and is designed for re-entry. 
    • The SM supports the CM in orbit, providing thermal, propulsion, power systems, avionics, and deployment mechanisms, but remains unpressurized.
• Mission Preparatory Tests:
  • Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT): Validate parachute and deceleration systems.
  • Test Vehicle Missions (TV): Test abort and launch systems.
  • Pad Abort Test (PAT): Check crew module safety from various altitudes.
  • Water Survival Test Facility (WSTF): Recovery trials with Navy support.

Financial Conditions Index

28-07-2025

Source: IE 

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed a daily-frequency Financial Conditions Index (FCI) to assess India’s financial market health in real-time to aid policymakers and analysts. 

• Objective: The FCI will serve as a composite indicator to measure tight or easy financial conditions relative to historical average since 2012. 
• Components: The FCI tracks 20 financial market indicators across money markets, government securities (G-Secs), corporate bonds, equities, and forex markets. 
  • Positive values of the standardised FCI indicate tighter conditions, while negative values suggest easier financial conditions. 
• Trends: During the RBI's sample period, the tightest financial conditions were recorded in July 2013 (taper tantrum, FCI at 2.826) driven by bond and forex market stress, while the easiest conditions occurred in June 2021 (post-Covid, FCI at -2.197) due to the RBI’s liquidity measures. 
  • A taper tantrum refers to a sudden spike in interest rates, triggered by investors' concerns that a central bank may begin scaling back its bond-buying program (quantitative easing). 
• Significance: This initiative highlights India’s commitment to indigenous macro-financial research and real-time policy planning.

Outlook of Indian Economy

28-07-2025

Source: IE 

Why in News? 

The Reserve Bank of India's article titled “State of the Economy” offers a cautiously optimistic view of the Indian economy, amid global and trade-related uncertainties. 

What is India's Present State of the Economy?  

• Inflation: Retail inflation (measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI)) fell from 5.4% in 2023–24 to 2.1% in June 2025, the lowest since January 2019. 
  • In June 2025, core inflation rose to 4.4% due to costlier personal care, education, and recreation, while overall inflation eased more sharply in rural (1.7%) than urban areas (2.6%). 
• Balance of Payments: India recorded a current account surplus of 1.3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Q4 2024–25.  
  • India’s Current Account Deficit narrowed to 0.7% of GDP in FY24.  
• Fiscal Developments: Gross fiscal deficit (GFD) stood at 0.8% of its 2025-26 budget estimates, a significant improvement from 3.1% in 2024-25  
  • Till May 2025, the Centre received 21% of Budget Estimates (BE) 2025-26 of Total Receipts. Total expenditure stood at 14.7% of FY26 BE, with a notable focus on capital expenditure.  
• Trade Performance:  India’s overall trade deficit narrowed nearly 30% in May 2025, mainly due to falling oil prices and strong services exports.  
  • Compared to May 2024, total exports in May 2025 grew by 2.8% boosted by a 9.4% rise in services exports, while total imports fell by 1%. 
  • India’s export performance in FY 2024–25 was driven by strong growth in sectors like coffee, tobacco, electronic goods, rice, and drugs & pharmaceuticals.  
    • Other sectors such as ready-made garments (RMG) of textiles, plastic & linoleum, engineering goods, and fruits & vegetables also saw positive growth.  
  • The US, UK, Japan, UAE, and France emerged as top export destinations during the year.  
  • On the import front, major sources included UAE, China, Thailand, US, and Russia.  
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): FDI inflows up 14% in FY25 from FY24, and 125% higher than FY14. 
  • The services sector led with 19% of equity inflows, followed by software & hardware (16%) and trading (8%).  
  • Manufacturing FDI rose by 18% in FY25 compared to FY24, Maharashtra topped with 39% of inflows, while Singapore was the largest source (30%), followed by Mauritius and the US. 
• Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI): India witnessed positive net Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) inflows of USD 44.1 billion in FY24. 
• External Debt: India's external debt rose by 10% in 2025 compared to 2024, with the debt-to-GDP ratio rose slightly to 19.1% from 18.5% FY24. 
• Foreign Exchange Reserves: India's foreign exchange reserves stood at USD 696 billion as of July 2025, covering over 11 months of goods imports and 95% of external debt. 

What are the Factors Affecting the Indian Economy at Present? 

• Global Headwinds: 
  • Geopolitical and Trade Tensions: Ongoing Iran-Israel tensions and uncertainty around US tariff policies are keeping the global environment unstable.  
    • Global tariff rates may rise to levels last seen in the 1930s, which could raise India’s import costs and worsen inflation. 
  • Weak Global Confidence: Consumer and business sentiment remains subdued worldwide, slowing the pace of global recovery.  
    • This reduces demand for Indian exports, especially in sectors like manufacturing and IT services. 
  • Sticky Global Inflation: Inflation has increased in advanced economies and remains elevated in emerging markets like Brazil and Russia.  
    • This may lead to tighter global monetary policy, which can restrict foreign capital flows into India and increase borrowing costs. 
• Domestic Activity: 
  • Industrial Slowdown: Growth in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) fell to 1.2% in May 2025, the lowest since August 2024.  
    • This hampers job creation and weakens momentum in industrial and manufacturing sectors. 
  • Drop in Credit Growth: Bank credit to Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and industry declined.  
    • NBFC loan disbursals dropped 13% year-on-year in the September 2024 quarter. Urban loan sanctions fell 23%, and long-term loans dropped by 50%.  
    • Loans against securities and education loans also saw sharp declines. This curbs business investment and slows economic expansion. 
  • Slower GST Revenue Growth: Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections grew by only about 6% in June 2025, the slowest pace in four years.  
    • This suggests weakening demand, a cautious business sentiment, and adds pressure on government finances. 
  • Labour Market Strain: While unemployment remained steady at 5.6% in June 2025, rural labour force participation declined due to the agricultural lean season and extreme heat.  
    • This signals stress in rural employment, which can hurt rural consumption and overall demand. 
  • State Finances: States face rising subsidy burdens from loan waivers and free services, which strain finances and divert funds from infrastructure.  

Way Forward 

• Fast-track Trade Deals: Expedite FTAs with key partners like the US  to cushion against tariff hikes and open new markets. 
  • Invest in export infrastructure, port efficiency, and quality certification to help Indian goods compete globally. 
• Boost Rural Demand and Job Creation: Expand rural employment programs during lean agricultural seasons and heatwaves. 
  • Shift focus from just transfers to rural skilling and non-farm livelihood support, especially for youth and women. Improve irrigation, cold storage, and market linkages to make farming more resilient. 
• Maintain Macro Stability While Supporting Growth: Control inflation through supply-side steps while sticking to the fiscal glide path.  
  • Keep policies stable and investor-friendly to ensure capital flows. Use forex reserves to support essential imports like energy and tech.

Conclusion 

India needs disciplined, steady, and state-led execution. Balancing welfare with investment, and exports with domestic demand, will be key to turning current challenges into a long-term growth opportunity. 

Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary

28-06-2025

Source: TOI 

A tigress and her four cubs were found dead in Karnataka’s Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) Wildlife Sanctuary, suspected to have been poisoned amid escalating human-wildlife conflict. 

Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary 

• About: It is located in Chamarajanagar district, southeast Karnataka, near the Tamil Nadu border, and was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2013.  
  • Its topography includes mainly dry deciduous forests, along with patches of moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen, and shola forests at varying altitudes. 
• Ecological Importance: It is contiguous with Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu, forming a critical tiger corridor between the two states. 
  • It is home to tigers, leopards, elephants, apart from a rich density of prey species. 
• Tiger Reserve Status: The proposal to upgrade MM Hills to a Tiger Reserve has been pending for nearly 15 years. If approved, Chamarajanagar will become the first district in India to host 3 tiger reserves—Bandipur, BRT, and MM Hills. 
  • Karnataka has the second-largest tiger population in India (563 tigers) after Madhya Pradesh (785 tigers). 
• Human Settlements: The region is home to two dominant communities: the Soligas, indigenous former hunter-gatherers, and the Lingayats, temple priests from Mysore engaged in temple management. 

Review of Project Elephant

28-06-2025

Source: IE 

The Union Environment Ministry reviewed key initiatives under Project Elephant (1992) , highlighting the completion of Phase-I of the synchronized elephant population estimation in Northeastern states.